Folding crate.



J. J. DAHLSTROM. FOLDING G'RATE.

APPLICATION I'ILED'JULY 26, I913.

1,12056 9-8. Patented Dec. 15,1914.

0727a 67- Jd/7Z k60776 awm g wrney innTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D'AHLsTnoM, oF'AMITE, LOUISIANA.

FOLDING omen.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Application filed Ju1y2 6, 1913. Serial No. 781,422.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN J. DAHLSTROM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amlte, Tangipahoa parish, Loulsla-na, have invented certain new and useful Impr0ve-' quickly set up or dismantledjwhich when set up, is substantial and not liable to accidental collapse; which, when folded, is substantially flat and may be economically packed for storage or shipment; and which enables ready access to its contents for the purpose of inspection.

The improved crate comprises vertical hingedly connected walls, a top, and a bottom. The hinge connections between the vertical walls-consist of members which are similar in form to staples and have parallel vertical legs whi'chform pivots for said walls and horizontal portions connecting said legs and extending diagonally a ross thecorners of the adjacent walls, these orizontal. portions serving to brace the walls relatively to one another when the crate is set up and to maintain the relation of the top and bottom.

In the accompanying drawings Figure J. is a perspective view of a crate II). which the features of the invention are incorporated, the crate being set up for use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig.3 is aplan view or edge elevation of the crate when collapsed. Fig. 4: is a detail view showing one of the hinge connections between two of the .vertical walls, the other hinge connections being of similar character. Fig. 5 is a detail view ofa catch which aids in retaining the top against displacement. i

' Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

*i crate shown is of rectangular form tie vertical side walls 1 and the 11 end walls 2. The walls 1 and 2 are edly connected at their adjacent ends by generally U-shaped members 3 which have vertical legs 4 pivotally engaged with the walls which said members connect and horizontal portions 5 connecting said legs hinge members are arranged at and, when the crate is set up, extending diagonally across the corners thereof. The the upper and lower ends of the crate, the upper hinge members retaining the top 6 against upward, lateral, or endwise displacement and the lower hinge members forming supports for the bottom 7.

The top 6 and bottom 7 are structurally independent of the vertical walls.- \Vhcri the crate is to be set up, the Walls 1 and 2 are disposedat right angles to one another and the bottom 7 is placed in position. Said bottom braces the vertical walls at their lower ends againstaccidental collapse and rests upon the horizontal portions 5 of the lower hinge members. The top 6 is provided with two or more transverse cleats 8 which project laterally from said top and rest upon the upper edges of the side walls 1, thereby forming supports for the top. In orderthat the top may be held against displacement, its corner portions at,one end thereof are engaged under the horizontal portions 5 of the adjacent pair of upper hinge members. .At the corners of the other end the top has oblique edges 10 which clear the horizontal portions 5 of the adjacent pair of upper hinge members and enable the top to be quickly and ponveniently placed in position. Between its oblique corner edges 10 the top is engaged by a catch 9 which is pivoted to the adjacent end wall of the box and, in connection with the upper hinge members at the opposite end of the box, positively holds the top against displacement. 'l Vhen the top is to be removed,

the catch 9 is swung on its pivot to a position clear of the top, at which time the removal of the top may be effected by canting it slightly so as to raise the end which has the oblique edges 10, and then by sliding it longitudinally of the box until its corner portions at its opposite end are disengaged from the adjacent hingemembers. While terposed between the side walls, parallel thereto, after which the vertical walls are folded, so that the side walls are brought as closely together as possible, 'as shov vn in Fig.- 3. When folded, the crate takes up little space and m be economically packed for storage or shipment; When the crate is set up, the end walls fit between the side Walls and the hinge members which provide diagonal connections betwe'n S316. end and v side Walls act as braces. In this 'Way the crate, though simply constructed, is substantial and serviceable. The hinge connections are not liableto derangement, are cheap, and may be readily renewed, whenever the occasion may require.

' Having fully described my invention, I claim:'

A folding crate having nertical 31 5115,, hinge ,members' connecting said walls atthe' upper and lower ends thereof, the hinge.-

members comprising] U-shaped in having verticel legs thewalls which sai horizontal portions connecting said-legs," a

' members, when thefcrateiis set.up,.

many 'engegedflwith members connect the horizontalpportionsj of the lower members whenthe crate-1s set up, and a dis at one end b v zontal portions of the" ad] acent uppfir;

t j I site corners of the'tophaying inch to clear the horizontal POIt101f1Q fig, I cent hinge members, and a, cat, 1h, pivoted thelend wallbf'lthtebqx adjacent that end of the top which ha -saidinelined edgesto engag o er the top and prevent'displecementthereof; r

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set nesses." I

f v v ,JQ N J-.1 A LSTR M,- 'iwitnesses z' lf THos. RIDGLEY,

ERNEST Qenon. I U

thereof engaged under the my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit-f I 

